RUSSIAN CASES · GENITIVE

The Russian Genitive Case
(Роди́тельный паде́ж)

Q: How do numbers work with the genitive?

Два, три, четыре (and compound numerals ending in these words) take the genitive singular; пять and above take the genitive plural. Examples: два часа, пять часов.

Q: Which prepositions take the genitive case?

The most common are из, от, до, без, для, около, после, and у. The genitive combines with more prepositions than any other Russian case.

The genitive case answers the questions кого́? (of whom?) and чего́? (of what?). Its core meaning is "of": possession, belonging, and part of a whole. It also appears constantly after не́т and with numbers and quantity words.

When to Use the Genitive Case

Possession and "of" relations

The possessor follows the thing possessed — the reverse of English word order.

Э́то маши́на моего́ отца́. — This is my father's car.
Absence and negation: не́т + genitive

What is absent stands in the genitive after не́т (present), не́ было (past), and не бу́дет (future).

У меня́ нет вре́мени. — I don't have time.
Quantity and measure

After quantity words (such as мно́го, ма́ло, ско́лько) and containers and units (such as буты́лка, ча́шка, килогра́мм). With numbers, 2–4 take the genitive singular and 5 and above take the genitive plural.

Купи́, пожа́луйста, буты́лку воды́. — Please buy a bottle of water.

В гру́ппе пять студе́нтов. — There are five students in the group.
Having: у + genitive (есть)

Russian normally expresses "to have" with у + genitive rather than a verb.

У ба́бушки есть больша́я соба́ка. — Grandma has a big dog.
Source: receiving and learning from someone

Common verbs: получа́ть / получи́ть от (to receive from), узнава́ть / узна́ть у (to find out from), брать / взять у (to take/borrow from).

Мы получи́ли письмо́ от дру́га. — We received a letter from a friend.
Prepositions that take the genitive

из (out of), от (from), до (until, up to), без (without), для (for), о́коло (near), по́сле (after), and у (at, by), among others.

По́сле уро́ков мы идём домо́й. — After classes we go home.
Verbs that take the genitive

A small group of verbs governs the genitive directly, most importantly боя́ться (to be afraid of) and жела́ть (to wish).

Де́ти боя́тся темноты́. — Children are afraid of the dark.

Genitive Case Endings

	Masc hard стол	Masc soft слова́рь	Fem (‑а) ко́мната	Fem (‑я/‑ь) пло́щадь	Neuter ме́сто
Nouns — Singular
Sg	стола́	словаря́	ко́мнаты	пло́щади	ме́ста
Nouns — Plural
Pl	столо́в	словаре́й	ко́мнат (no ending)	площаде́й	мест (no ending)

Adjectives

	Masculine	Neuter	Feminine	Plural
Hard но́вый	но́вого	но́вого	но́вой	но́вых
Soft си́ний	си́него	си́него	си́ней	си́них

Personal Pronouns

я	ты	он / оно́	она́	мы	вы	они́
меня́	тебя́	его́ (него́)	её (неё)	нас	вас	их (них)

FAQ

Why does Russian use the genitive after не́т?

Because Russian marks absence with the genitive. This works not only with не́т (present) but also with не́ было (past) and не бу́дет (future).

How do numbers work with the genitive?

Два, три, четы́ре (and compound numerals ending in these words) take the genitive singular; пять and above take the genitive plural. Examples: два часа́, пять часо́в.

Which prepositions take the genitive case?

The most common are из, от, до, без, для, о́коло, по́сле, and у. The genitive combines with more prepositions than any other Russian case.

The Russian Genitive Case(Роди́тельный паде́ж)

When to Use the Genitive Case

Genitive Case Endings

FAQ

Related Pages

The Russian Genitive Case
(Роди́тельный паде́ж)